What should divers do before ascending to ensure safe decompression?

Performing a safety stop is crucial for divers to ensure safe decompression after a dive. As divers ascend, the reduction in pressure causes nitrogen absorbed during the dive to come out of solution and form bubbles, a process that can lead to decompression sickness if not managed properly. A safety stop typically occurs at about 15 feet for three to five minutes after a dive, allowing time for nitrogen to safely off-gas from the tissues into the lungs, where it can be exhaled. This practice significantly reduces the risk of decompression illness, promoting a safer return to the surface.

While calculating the remaining air supply, checking equipment, and managing buoyancy are all important aspects of safe diving practices, they are not directly related to the decompression process occurring during ascent. These activities ensure safety and preparedness throughout the dive, but they do not address the physiological changes happening in the body as a diver ascends.